Toronto Woman Charged After Dog Attack at City Park Leaves Child With ‘Life-Altering’ Injuries

A dog walker walks along St. Clair Ave. in Toronto in this March 7, 2011, file photo. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

A Toronto woman is facing multiple charges after a weekend dog attack at a city park left a child with “life-altering” injuries, police say.

The attack comes less than a week after city council approved several new procedures for Toronto Animal Services to bolster both enforcement of and compliance with dangerous dog orders.

The changes were a response to an increased level of attacks in the city last year, director of Animal Services Dr. Esther Attard said in an emailed statement.

Toronto police have arrested 38-year-old Patrycja Siarek in connection with the most recent incident that occurred on the playground at Little Norway Park near Bathurst Street at 10:15 a.m. on March 23.

A woman was inside the playground area with an off-leash dog, despite signs posted in the park that dogs are not permitted in the playground area, police said.

When a father and child approached the playground, the dog charged at them through an open gate and bit and dragged the child to the ground.

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“The woman and the child’s father attempted to get the dog to release the child,” police said in a press release. “When the dog released the child, the woman fled northbound out of the area with the dog.”

The child was taken to hospital with “serious, life-altering … but non-life threatening injuries,” police said.

Police did not release the name, age, or gender of the victim and did not offer any specific details about the injuries sustained in the attack.

A search warrant was executed March 24 in the Fort York Boulevard and Bathurst Street area, not far from the park and a female suspect was arrested, police said, adding that Toronto Animal Services seized the woman’s dog. Police described the dog as black, tan and white with a chain collar.

Ms. Siarek has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm and faces four additional charges under the Toronto Municipal Code and the Dog Owner’s Liability Act. The charges include allowing a dog to run at large in an area not designated as off-leash, failing to ensure a dangerous dog is muzzled at all times when off the owner’s property, failing to prevent a dog from biting or attacking, and dog bite to a person.

Dangerous Dogs

Dr. Attard told The Epoch Times there are approximately 450 dogs in the city under an active Dangerous Dog Order (DDO). The number includes all active DDOs dating back to 2017, when the dangerous dog section of the bylaw was implemented.

Approximately 10 percent of the dogs on the list were linked to a “very severe injury or mauling,” she said. She added that dogs involved in “very serious incidents are euthanized” and are not included on the list.

There were 2,726 service requests registered for potentially dangerous acts by dogs in 2023, an increase from 2,653 the year prior, she said.

“In our experience, most dog attacks could have been prevented if dogs were on leash,” Dr. Attard said. “We strongly urge all dog owners to please keep their dogs on leashes when out in public, except when in designated dogs off-leash areas.”

She said the simple act of keeping dogs leashed is essential for community safety.

“We need all dog owners to step up and help prevent these horrific incidents by always leashing and keeping their dogs under control in public,” she said.

City council, on March 20, adopted several new measures to address dog attacks, including posting a public list of dangerous dogs that details the dog owner’s postal code, ward number, the dog’s name, breed and colour, and the date of the dangerous act.

Council also approved a recommendation requiring dog owners to post a dangerous dog warning sign on their properties after an order has been issued. The city also plans to explore options for providing access to discounted dog obedience and socialization training for owners of dangerous dogs who cannot afford training.

If the city determines a dog has committed a severe dangerous act or it is not the dog’s first offence, a dangerous dog order will be issued, according to the city website. Such orders require the dog to be microchipped, wear a dangerous dog tag, and be muzzled except when on the owner’s property.

Dangerous dogs are banned from off-leash areas and the owner  must ensure the dog receives socialization/obedience training within 90 days of receiving the order. The city will also keep a photo of the dog on file.